"On the Peace" ( grc, Περὶ τῆς εἰρήνης) is one of the most famous political orations of the prominent

Athenian Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...

statesman and orator

Demosthenes Demosthenes (; el, Δημοσθένης, translit=Dēmosthénēs; ; 384 – 12 October 322 BC) was a Greek statesman and orator in ancient Athens. His orations constitute a significant expression of contemporary Athenian intellectual pr ...

. It was delivered in 346 BC and constitutes a political intervention of Demosthenes in favor of the

Peace of Philocrates Peace of Philocrates is the name given to the peace treaty concluded in 346 BC between Classical Athens, Athens and Macedon under Philip II of Macedon, Philip II. Philocrates was the name of the main Athenian negotiator of the Treaty. Background ...

Historical background

Just after the conclusion of the

Philip II of Macedon Philip II of Macedon ( grc-gre, Φίλιππος ; 382 – 21 October 336 BC) was the king ('' basileus'') of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia from 359 BC until his death in 336 BC. He was a member of the Argead dynasty, founders of the ...

passed

Thermopylae Thermopylae (; Ancient Greek and Katharevousa: (''Thermopylai'') , Demotic Greek (Greek): , (''Thermopyles'') ; "hot gates") is a place in Greece where a narrow coastal passage existed in antiquity. It derives its name from its hot sulphur ...

, and subdued

Phocis Phocis ( el, Φωκίδα ; grc, Φωκίς) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Central Greece. It stretches from the western mountainsides of Parnassus on the east to the mountain range of Var ...

,Demosthenes,''On the Crown''
36
which was not helped by Athens.Demosthenes, ''On the Peace''
10
Supported by Thebes and

Thessaly Thessaly ( el, Θεσσαλία, translit=Thessalía, ; ancient Thessalian: , ) is a traditional geographic and modern administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, The ...

,Demosthenes, ''On the Crown''
43
Macedon took control of Phocis' votes in the

Amphictyonic League In Archaic Greece, an amphictyony ( grc-gre, ἀμφικτυονία, a "league of neighbors"), or amphictyonic league, was an ancient religious association of tribes formed before the rise of the Greek '' poleis''. The six Dorian cities of coast ...

. The Athenians had not been present at the council meeting that had voted for Philip's election into the council. However, Philip thought it proper to send letters to the states that had not been present, inviting them to assemble at Delphi so that they could ratify his election. Athens, among others, received the invitation. The invitation raised much ferment in the Athenian assembly, with many members indignant and opposed to Philips' election into the council. Yet, despite some strong and continuing opposition,Demosthenes, ''On the False Embassy''
111-113
Athens finally legitimised Philip's entrance into the Council of the League. Demosthenes was among those who recommended this stance in his oration ''On the Peace''.

The speech

The real subject of the oration is not peace, but the legitimation of Philip's participation in the Amphictyonic League. Ecclesia convened in order to take the final decision and Demosthenes was among those who expressed their opinion. He first argues that the current situation is unpleasant for the Athenians because of their own negligence (par. 1-3). He then refers to previous misjudgments of his countrymen (4-12) and asserts that Athens must avoid a war that would unify against it all the Greek cities (13-14) He argues that, if they do not recognize the new ''status quo'' in the Council of the League, they will cause a rift with the other members of the League (18-19). In order to convince ecclesia, he reminds his countrymen of the fact that in the past Philip had efficiently exploited Thebes' and

's interests, in order to use them for his own purposes. He is thus capable of repeating such a plot (20-23). Finally, the orator enumerates Athens' sacrifices for the sake of peace and argues that it would be unintelligent to break the peace because of the incident in Delphi. Nonetheless, he underscores that they must not accept any further concession to Philip (24-25). According t
A. W.Pickard
the Assembly were persuaded to give way. To have refused would have brought the united forces of the Amphictyonic States against Athens: and those they could not have resisted. It was therefore prudent to keep the peace, though Demosthenes evidently regarded it only as an armistice. A. Galinos regards Demosthenes' oration as model of the art of diplomacy and emphasizes on the pain and the psychological pressure Demosthenes must have suffered, arguing in favor of Philip's demands.A. Galinos, ''Comments on Demosthenes'', 330.

References

External links

*Preface and translation of the oration b

Text of the speech at the Perseus Digital Library
{{DEFAULTSORT:On The Peace Works by Demosthenes 346 BC Ancient Greek orations